Alfred Rewane

Ogbeyiwa Erewarone, known as Alfred Rewane, born in Warri, Delta state to Jemide Erewarone a trader. He was a financier and political crusader.

Alfred Rewane Age

Not available.

Alfred Rewane Early Life

While his father was away on business trips to Rewanne, Alfred stayed with his religious uncle who gave him the name Alfred. He had his basic education in Warri, attending the African School and Government School. He then gained admission into the famous Dennis memorial grammar school Onitsha, but his father could not afford having two sons in college at the same time. His elder brother, Chief O.N Rewane, the Ologbotsere (traditional Prime Minister) of Warri, was already at the Government College, Ibadan, Oyo state.

Alfred Rewane Career

As a restive youth, Alred was by sheer providence, spotted by the United African Company, U.A.C, who instantly employed him and took him to their fold for management training in Burutu, to be trained in every aspect of business management and accounting and on completion of this intensive studies, he was posted to Lagos, in   a managerial capacity as the Beach master at the Lagos Custom Wharf, where he had so much to do with the control of UAC Labour movement, the UAC being then, the largest employer of labour in Nigeria.

As a restive soul, after serving at several other departments at the UAC headquarters, he voluntarily retired in the early 40s. He found unpleasant, the drudgery, regimented and restricted life of a paid employee. After his early retirement, mother luck smiled on him, when a European company, with headquarters in the United Kingdom, gave him a contract for the supply of Cow Bones and he later became a major exporter of Bones in Nigeria, a business which had hitherto been unknown in Nigeria, as an export commodity. With his knowledge in business management, he travelled round the length and breadth of Nigeria for Bones to export. He also added to his export business, the supply of Black Pepper (Igbere), which was a highly priced commodity during the Second World War. This huge success, encouraged him to add timber to his export business.

In 1947, Alfred started a first class night club at Queens Street, Yaba, called the Rex club, which became an attraction for the Nigerian middle and upper class. His night club encouraged indigenous musicians like the late Bobby Benson and his wife, Cassandra. His tax assessment in 1947 was enviably the highest, for any private individual in Nigeria. He was thus, reputed to be one of Nigeria’s wealthiest citizens. In 1952, he played a pivotal role, in changing the title of the Itsekiri monarch from the Olu of Itsekiri to the Olu of Warri. At the same time, the then Warri Province was changed to the Delta Province, to allay Urhobo fears, thus confining the name Warri to the Administrative Itsekiri Division.

In politics, Alfred began his political career at an impressionable age. His love for the Warri Kingdom and the Itsekiri people encouraged him to go into politics for the economic and political wellbeing of the Itsekiri people. Alfred’s friendship with the late Chief Bode Thomas, brought him to the fore front of the Action Group, of which he became one of its founding members. This heralded his association with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, which later developed into complete and total confidence with each other and perhaps cultic loyalty.

Pa Alfred Rewane was a crusader and true hero in the battle for the soul of June 12. While many Pro-Democracy activists left the country to prosecute the war in exile, he lived to his nickname, Osibakoro, as he was among the few, even at 79 years of age, who fought the Abacha junta gallantly and paid the ultimate price. His battle or democratic governance was legendary. He made huge financial contributions to The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and also spent millions of naira on media campaigns for the restoration of June 12 mandate.

Alfred Rewane Personal Life

Pa Alfred He was a gentleman, a good citizen and a successful businessman. He was a role model in costume and elegance. He was the epitome of wellness and grandeur. He was tall, shimmering, ebony black and stately, that one could easily be hypnotized by his presence.

He was murdered in cold blood in his bedroom on Friday, October 5th, 1995 by suspected agents of the Abacha junta because of his principled and uncompromising stand for the restoration of Abiola’s mandate. Sadly, 23 years on, the Nigerian state and its security agencies have not been able to unmask his killers and ensure that those behind it are brought to book. It was in recognition of his immense contributions to the June 12 struggle that the then US Ambassador in Nigeria, Walter Carrington, noted on the occasion of his assassination: “You can only kill the messenger, but you cannot kill the message.”

Alfred Rewane Awards

He held numerous chieftaincy titles.

Alfred Rewane Net Worth

His net worth is not available.

Alfred Rewane on Social Media